Multiple Sclerosis Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Multiple Sclerosis (1) One third of a million Americans suffer from MS and a great percentage of those people are women. Women account for 73% of MS sufferers. (2) MS usually strikes young adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. (8) There are even some cases of MS being diagnosed in childhood. Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system, attacking the brain and the spinal cord. MS attacks myelin, the fatty material that acts as a protective coating to the body's nerves. (1) The inflammation of the nerve tissues covering the nerves can affect any part of the nervous system and varies from person to person. (7) Normal nerve function decreases with the onset of MS because MS causes scars to form on the covering of the nerve. Multiple Sclerosis acquires this term because it literally means scars. (1,7) The covering of the nerve with myelin is very important so that the nerve can transmit signals rapidly and efficiently. Demylelination enables the nerve to carry impulses properly by either blocking or slowing transmission and this is why the various symptoms of MS occur. (1) Symptoms associated with Multiple sclerosis consist in a wide range. MS could cause a numbness of the limbs, loss of vision, or even paralysis. (2) There is no specific set of symptoms that a patient may experience because MS may have affected different parts of the nervous system. Some patients may experience a loss of balance, unstable walking, clumsiness, blurred vision, spasticity (a spring-like resistance to moving or being moved), abnormal speech, memory loss, impotence, and bladder problems are to name a few. (1) In any one patient the symptoms may vary with each attack. (7) The symptoms can last up to days or... ...ave MS are suffering from a disease from which there is no cure and can only have their symptoms alleviated for a while. Earlier mandatory testing should be at the forefront for the young adults that MS targets. > WWW Sources 1)What is MS?, http://www.msif.org/language_choice.html 2)What is Multiple Sclerosis, http://www.nationalmssociety.org/ILD/home/ 3)Multiple Sclerosis: Overview, http://medstat.med.utah.edu/ 4)References on Multiple Sclerosis and Marijuana , http://www.druglibrary.org/ 5)Multiple Sclerosis, Mulitiple Sclerosis Symptom, Multiple Sclerosis Treatment, http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web3/www.pychealth.com 6)My Life and Fight Against Multiple Sclerosis, http://www.angelfire.lycos.com/ 7)Multiple Sclerosis, http://health.yahoo.com/ 8)Multiple Sclerosis, http://www.msif.org/language_choice.html

Nature Versus Nurture Essay

Nature versus Nurture The nature versus nurture debate has been one that has been around for centuries. This debate was spawned from the idea that nature and nurture are both pieces of the human puzzle. Are we as humans shaped because of our genes only or are we influenced by our peers and environment? The opinion of this writer is that a person is who he or she is based on both principals of nature and nurture. Personal Thoughts My thoughts on nature and nurture have never been explored until now. I have always assumed that I am who I am because God made me this way. Now that I have learned a bit more about this debate, I find that I am a product of both nature and nurture. I am tall, have brown hair, wear glasses, and speak with a country accent because of my gene structure given to me by my parents. The way that I act and my thought processes come from influences in my environment and the teachings of my family. â€Å"We are a product of nature and nurture, but we are also an open system† (Myers, pg. 167). This means that even though genes and culture are influences in a person’s overall structure, a person can defy each. For example, as a teenager, I was always pressured to go with the crowd and conform to their ways of thinking and acting. I wanted so badly to fit in and found it difficult because I was tall, lanky, and had acne which was all given to me by my nature or genetic structure. Growing up in a smaller town, teenage drinking was a pressure of my social group and while I knew it would be the â€Å"thing to do†, I opposed what culture was telling me was okay. I chose not to go with the crowd and for that, I enjoyed my high school experience in my own way. I was taught by my parents the consequences of right and wrong and knew that making such choices were wrong for me which was instilled in me through the nurture part of my makeup. God says â€Å"Train up a child in the way in which he should go† (Prov. 22:6) which must have been a very important verse as I was growing up. My parents and grandparents have always been influential in making me a self-respecting, confident adult who can make conscious decisions on my own. History The nature versus nurture debate first began in the 13th century in France. Our genes give us our internal imprint that tell us what color our eyes are, how tall we will be, and how big our feet will be. Our genetic structure makes us unique. Psychological influences refer to our beliefs, feelings, and expectations of life experiences. These characteristics are based on the â€Å"gene-environment interaction† and can give us â€Å"responses evoked by our own temperament, gender, etc. † (Myers, pg. 167). Finally, social-cultural influences are how society influences our development. These can come from our parents, friends, culture, and even gender. A person’s social-cultural influences can cause them to see people differently than they normally would. I could see this being the state where racism is influenced. Unfortunately, I see this becoming a bigger influencing factor in the years ahead and we, as a society, have many different cultural groups in our everyday lives. Conclusion In conclusion, the nature versus nurture debate can take on many different forms in how it is perceived. One could see that they are who they are based on their heredity while another could see it from an environmental viewpoint.

Receptor Antagonists Modulator Of Abuse Potential Of Drugs

5-HT3 RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS: MODULATOR OF ABUSE POTENTIAL OF DRUGS Abstract Serotonergic system in brain creates an important network for proper functioning of brain. It plays an integral role in regulating A9 as well as A10 dopaminergic neurons in basal neuronal circuit. The 5-HT3 receptors are found to be the only ionic receptors in serotonergic family of receptors regulating several important functions of brain. The abuse drugs lead to dopamine increase in nucleus accumbens. This paper reflects on role of 5-HT3 antagonists in modulating the abuse potential of drugs. Among all the abuse drugs, 5-HT3 receptors are found to be most effective in condition of alcoholism. Moreover, there are evidences of neuroadaptive changes in brain after chronic use of 5-HT3 antagonists. All these studies led to identify site of action of alcohol and other abuse drugs on 5-HT3 receptor which is found to be different than the orthosteric site. CONTENTS 1. History of 5-HT3 2. Discovery of 5-HT receptors 3. Structure of 5-HT3 receptor 4. Mechanism of action of 5-HT3 receptor 5. Distribution of 5-HT3 receptor 5.1. Mesocorticolimbic pathway 5.2. Prefrontal cortex 6. Alcohol and 5-HT3 receptor 6.1. Electrophysiological Analysis: Potentiation of 5-HT3 activity by Alcohol 6.2. Inhibitory activity of Alcohol 6.3. Alcohol binding site on 5-HT3 receptor 7. Role of 5-HT3 antagonists 7.1. 5-HT3 antagonists and Dopamine 7.2. 5-HT3 antagonists: Abuse potential 7.2.1. 5-HT3 antagonists and Alcohol 7.2.2.Show MoreRelatedFuture Medications and Newer Drugs3158 Words   |  13 PagesIntroduction This chapter deals with the newer drugs available in all classes of psychiatric disorders. Anxiety (Social Phobia) Anxiety disorders affect more than 40 million adults in the U.S., with about 15 million of those suffering from acute social phobia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The drug, which has a unique mechanism of action, is administered in an intranasal spray and acts with rapid-onset on peripheral receptors from nasal chemosensory neurons that act on theRead MoreMedications Essay1741 Words   |  7 Pagescategories will be automatically identified by the software based on the lists that follow. The user will be provided with the appropriate section on Jon’s list that provides both a list of related medications within this category and comments on the potential impact on testing.) Pain Medications: Opiates and synthetic opioids (Morphine, Dilaudid, Tylenol #3, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Tramadol, Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Codeine, Methadone) Comment: These medications tend to be habit forming, tend to induceRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Alcohol Abuse3037 Words   |  13 PagesSubstance abuse is use of a substance (drug) or alcohol in which the person consumes the substance/alcohol in amounts or with different methods which are harmful for themselves or others. Substance abuse and addictions are run in families. Alcohol drinking can be defined in many types as following- Social drinking is defined as occasional drinking in a social setting without an intention to get drunk. Binge drinking is defined as consumption of alcohol in excess of which is socially acceptable,Read MoreEssay On Phencyclidine4300 Words   |  18 Pagesantipsychotics [7]. Moreover, a number of recent studies have suggested that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as adjuncts to antipsychotic drugs are effective for treating schizophrenia [8,  9]. Therefore, the pathological process underlying schizophrenia may involve neuroinflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS). Noncompetitive  N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, including phencyclidine (PCP), evoke schizophrenia-like psychosis and cognitive deficits in healthyRead MoreGsk Annual Report 2010135604 Words   |  543 Pageslong-standing legal matters. This belies the good progress we have made to execute our strategy and which is evident in diversiï ¬ ed underlying sales growth and the increasing potential of our pipeline. We believe GSK is becoming a more balanced, synergistic business with a lower risk proï ¬ le and the option for signiï ¬ cant potential upside from the pipeline. GSK is also a business built on strong values and a deep commitment to operating with integrity. In 2010 we have taken further steps to make our company