Abstract
This paper discusses metastatic breast cancer, cancer that originates in the breast and moves to lymph nodes and other bodily tissues. It provides a research study on its treatment using high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). It analyzes its efficacy and safety as well as some of the arguments that state that the effectiveness of HDC/ASCT may vary according to various non-treatment related factors-- age, stage of disease at diagnosis, hormone receptor status, use of prior adjuvant chemotherapy, initial disease-free interval, response to prior chemotherapy and number and sites of metastases. The paper includes tables of figures and diagrams.

Outline
Abstract
Introduction
Current Research
Efficacy
Safety
Future Prospects

From the Paper
"Stress is another factor affecting treatment outcomes because high levels of stress may directly impact patients; both their mental and physical health. A study on post-traumatic stress disorder in stem cell transplant patients confirmed harmful effects on patients' quality of life. This study was not limited to patients with metastatic breast cancer, but was completed in a similar way as the previously mentioned studies that recorded personal health. Patients were asked to fill out questionnaires to judge if they were suffering from post-traumatic stress as a result of stem cell transplant. It was reported that the week before the transplant, approximately half of the patients had the highest levels of distress, which declined only slightly after the transplant was completed (Wettergren et al., 1999). The body's response to stress is complicated involving several organs, hormones and responses. This is extra energy that the body is expending and is therefore less able to focus on the task of recovery."

Tags:stress, lymph, nodes, disorder, leukemia

From the Paper
"Introduction
In several speeches in 1989, the United States Surgeon General indicated that over 2 million women are physically assaulted by their spouses or partners each year (Geffner & Rosenbaum, 1990). The O.J. Simpson trial, despite its many sideshows, managed to place the issue of domestic abuse more firmly on the center stage of public discourse. The growing awareness of the seriousness of the domestic abuse problem has resulted in the legal system taking such cases more seriously. In addition to increased incarceration and punishment, many judges have begun referring men who abuse their partners in domestic abuse intervention programs. However, few studies have been made to assess the effectiveness of such programs. Those studies that have been conducted have only drawn weak..."

Abstract
The paper describes the antimicrobial activity of Vancomycin hydrochloride, a glycopeptide antibiotic that is effective in combating antibiotic-resistant staphylococci and staphylococcal infections. The paper looks at how Vancomycin is absorbed and then relates the regular dosage and the dosage when the patient suffers from renal failure. The paper explains how the dose of vancomycin is also dependent on the type of treatment being received.

From the Paper
"Critically ill patients are at increased risk of contracting Gram-positive nosocomial infections such as Enterococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus, pathogens that are particularly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Vancomycin hydrochloride is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is effective in combating antibiotic-resistant staphylococci and staphylococcal infections in patients with methicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant organisms or in patients who cannot be given these primary drugs (I-Hong Hsu, 2001). Patients suffering from catheter-related infections secondary to Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and patients undergoing dialysis are treated with vancomycin. It has been used clinically for over 40 years against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and other Gram-positive bacteria."

Tags:antibiotic, staphylococcal, infections, microorganisms, dialysis

Abstract
The paper relates that the type of study is a randomized, controlled trial and the hypothesis is that if repeat doses of antenatal corticosteroids are given to mothers, the doses will affect children's survival and they will be free of serious health problems. The paper discusses how the previous literature was from randomized, controlled trials and showed that there was a reduction in the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome when women took repeat doses of antenatal corticosteroid. Also, the paper relates that children whose mothers took the repeat doses were not likely to get serious neonatal lung disease or suffer from serious neonatal illnesses.

From the Paper
"The title reflects the nature of the study and tells what the study is about. The type of study is a randomized, controlled trial. The hypothesis is that if repeat doses of antenatal corticosteroids are given to mothers, the doses will affect children's survival and they will be free of serious health problems. The previous literature was from randomized, controlled..."

Tags:article, critique, respiratory

Abstract
Zinc in the food supply constitutes a health hazard and can lead to gastric irritation and other symptoms. Zinc is not a great threat in small doses, but it can accumulate in the body over time, as might happen if an individual eats a food regularly that contains high doses of zinc. Zinc and other heavy metals can be poisonous in their ionic form. One food found to contain zinc in higher than desired amounts is fish, and this problem has been increasing as more and more zinc and other metals are expelled as waste products from factories and other sources and make their way into the water supply.

From the Paper
Introduction Zinc in the food supply constitutes a health hazard and can lead to gastric irritation and other symptoms. Zinc is not a great threat in small doses, but it can accumulate in the body over time, as might happen if an individual eats a food regularly that contains high doses of zinc. Zinc and other heavy metals can be poisonous in their ionic form. One food found to contain zinc in higher than desired amounts is fish, and this problem has been increasing as more and more zinc and other metals are expelled as waste products from factories and other sources and make their way into the water supply. These compounds can then affect plant and

Tags:zinc, fish, contamination

Abstract
Using a four step protocol to study an environmental hazard control situation, this paper analyzes the use of Malathion to prevent exposure to the West Nile virus by mosquitoes, which breed in standing water. The paper assesses the dangers of both exposure to Malathion and to this virus, especially in the case of Mexican-American field workers. Thus, the paper concludes that erring on the side of caution and spraying with Malathion seems to be the better option.

Table of Contents:
Step 1. Hazard Identification
Step 2. Dose-Response Assessment
Step 3. Exposure Assessment
Step 4. Risk Characterization

From the Paper
"Mild exposure to both West Nile Virus and the insecticide designed to prevent it by killing the carrier mosquitoes can cause headaches, nausea and vomiting, and general weakness. Eighty percent of those exposed to West Nile show no symptoms at all, but 1 in 150 can sustain permanent neurological damage. High doses of Malathion include hypertension, pallor, abdominal pain, sweating, blurred vision, poor concentration, confusion, and memory loss."

Tags:dose, birth defects, education residues agriculture

Abstract
The paper addresses infectious diseases, dose-response relationships and the interpreting of a dose-response curve.

From the Paper
"Question 1: 1.A) What factors do yellow fever and malaria have in common? The biggest similarity between the diseases is that they use mosquitoes as a vector (agent to transmission). Also they are tropical diseases that affect people primarily in South America and Africa. It can also be argued that the diseases have similar initial symptoms including fever and muscle ache. 1. B) The two diseases are different in a number of ways. The first major..."

Tags:human, health, environment

Abstract
The paper outlines the clinical history of a 70-year old man with symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the pathology of the disease and the patient preparation for a CT angiography. The paper explains the scanning and contrast protocol and looks at strategies to reduce the radiation dose. The paper explores image display, appearance and analysis, the after care of patients and the treatment and prognosis for PAD. The paper includes a CT image of PAD.

Outline:
Clinical History
Pathology
Patient Preparation for CT Angiography for PAD
Scanning Protocol
Contrast Protocol
Strategies to Reduce Radiation Dose
Image Display, Appearance and Analysis (2D/3D Reconstruction)
After Care of Patients
Treatment and Prognosis
Prognosis
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a chronic arterial occlusive disease of the lower extremities as result of atherosclerosis. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) produces detailed images of blood vessels and tissues of the extremities, and is thus, helpful in the diagnosis of PAD. Earlier, CTA technology was able to image only a portion of the peripheral arterial tree. Later, the multi-detector row CT (MDCT) technology evolved. In 1998, with the arrival of four-detector row CT (4D-CT), a complete coverage of the lower extremity inflow and runoff arteries with one acquisition using a single-contrast bolus, was possible. Further, with the 16-detector row CT (16D-CT), the spatial resolution increased and the contrast medium efficiency improved. Finally, with the 64-detector row CT (64D-CT) scanner, a true isotropic high spatial resolution of the entire volume was possible. Thus, the multi-detector row CT angiography (MDCTA) has developed as an accurate method in assessing the peripheral arteries."

Tags:CT, angiography, scanning, contrast, radiation, leg, foot, arteries

Abstract
This paper explains that physician assisted suicide is legal in Oregon, which is currently the only state that allows assisted suicide through their "Death with Dignity" Act that allows terminally ill patients to die with dignity, choosing not to suffer needless pain and anguish in situations where there is no hope they will recover. The author points out that euthanasia occurs when the physician themselves administers a lethal dose of a drug to cause death; however, physician assisted suicide occurs when the physician aids the patient in preparing a lethal dose and the patient administers it to themselves. The paper stresses that the most compelling argument for physician assisted suicide comes from terminally ill patients themselves, who are suffering and have no hope of ending the suffering until they die.

From the Paper
"However, the only bill to gain approval for physician assisted suicide is the bill in Oregon. Another expert notes, "Since 1992, bills have been introduced to legalize assisted suicide or euthanasia in [16] various state legislatures, including Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, [...] and Washington. All have failed -- so far." So, while many Americans believe they should have the right to die with dignity, fewer will vote for measures in their own states. The issue is especially heated in many religious communities, and some religions, such as Catholicism, have strict bans on suicide of any kind, and so they frown on any kind of right to die or assisted suicide measure in any form."

Tags:terminal, opposition, euthanasia, legal, dignity

Abstract
This paper contains information on the effects of ecstasy, mentally and physically. It shows the history and the banning of MDMA and contains information on trafficking, marketing, distributing, manufacturing, and even logos. It explains short term and long term effects from using ecstasy. It shows how serious the drug is and how just one dose can kill you.

From the paper:

"Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is becoming increasingly popular amongst high school and college students and studies show that it can have severe effects. The scientific name for ecstasy is methelynedioxymethamphetamine. Ecstasy has an interesting history which led to illegal use today. Nicknames for ecstasy include "the love drug" and is sometimes known as "Adam" or "X". Use of this drug is currently rising with high school and college students."

Tags:abuse, addiction, drug, ecstasy