Essays on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Integrated Perspective Studies

The case study of Merck/Vioxx case is highly significant in explaining in a practical view how causation and correlation arguments can affect and give impacts in legal claims. It is an indication of how ability or failure to understand the causality and correlation in an event or a case can impact defining a case (Pearl, 2010). This case can, therefore, be argued at different dimensions to define it in favour of or against the defendant. In this case study and as pleaded guilty for, it is quite clear that Merck had committed an offense which is probably civil offense ...

DHEA:

Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a hormone the human body produces via the adrenal glands, which are above the kidneys. The exact effect of DHEA is not yet fully identified; however, it is believed to be a precursor of the female and male sex hormones, namely estrogen and testosterone, among others. Precursors are substances that the body converts into hormones.

The production of DHEA usually reaches its peak around the mid-20s and declines ever after. The same applies to estrogen and testosterone, whose production also declines with age. For that reason, if an individual wants to increase their hormone levels, it ...

Introduction

Arthritis is a type of joint disorder involving the inflammation of the joints. It can affect one or more joints. Arthritis is commonly used as a general term referring to many types of illnesses all leading to the degeneration or inflammation of the joint. There are very many forms of arthritis illness. Osteoarthritis, being the most common form of arthritis (VanItallie, 2010). It is a degenerative disease of the joints which is as a result of age, trauma to the joint or infection to the joint. Another form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. Joint pain is the main complainant by people suffering from ...

In order to compare sexuality in teen magazines today and compare that with teen magazines of three decades ago, I selected the current issue of the contemporary magazine M Magazine (March, 2014), a magazine directed at teens. To have a standard of comparison, I read a back issue of Seventeen from December 1977.

M Magazine seems to have more sexually charged articles than other articles. If one were reading M Magazine in order to get a grasp of contemporary teenage culture, they would be likely to conclude that teens of today are interested in: what celebrities are doing, who they are dating, tips ...

Patient Advantage. (2009). Proposal for a pilot study to identify cost saving measures in management of muskuloskeletal conditions. Patient Advantage.

The proposal gives details the methodology, objectives and expected outcomes of a pilot project aimed at identifying the opportunities for saving cost in the management of musculoskeletal problems, with a particular focus on myofascial pain. The literature reviewed in the proposal identifies myofascial pain as a major underlying factor in many cases of chronic musculoskeletal pain and yet it is grossly under diagnosed and under treated. This justifies the need for the study using the action research modality. The proposal identifies different methods used to measure the cost of healthcare which include direct costs, indirect costs, claims cost and goes on to ...

The 46-year-old female patient reports pain and discomfort in her right ankle. Because she can still bear her weight on the ankle, it is possible to conclude it is not fractured. The most likely cause is strenuous physical activity, which resulted in an ankle sprain. Other diagnoses I should take in account include Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and calcaneal spur because they can all be triggered by physical trauma (Seller & Symons, 2012).

When collecting the patient’s medical history, it is important to focus on previous athletic injuries and previous instances of painful joints because that ...

Arthritis

Definition Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints in a human being (Breedveld, & Combe, 2011). This results with the stiffness of the joints and constant pain. The condition is known to worsen with the age of the individual. There are two most common types of arthritis and these are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by the wear and tear of the joint of the individuals on a normal scenario. Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand is an autoimmune disorder. There are also various types of arthritis and these include those caused by uric acid crystals, ...

Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is the most common type of chronic inflammatory arthritis, can affect any organ system. What causes Rheumatoid Arthritis is still unknown. Genetic susceptibility combined with an external trigger, such as infection, smoking, and trauma, is theorized to cause the disease expression. It is believed that these external triggers cause an autoimmune reaction, resulting in chronic joint inflammation and synovial hypertrophy along with other manifestations (Hammer and McPhee, 2014). It has been observed that the patients of Rheumatoid Arthritis have higher levels of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody titers and virus-infected B cells than the general people. ...

Coping with depression connected to rheumatoid arthritis

What is depression? Depression is essentially feeling ‘down’. It is a severe mood state that may affect the general state of mind. This usually comes about as a result of encountering a stressful condition or failing to meet one’s expectations in life as expected of them by the society or just at an individual level. Chronic lifestyle illnesses have been largely associated with such cases of anxiety and depression and so patients with rheumatic arthritis have been faced with the same condition. The nature of the disease incapacitates the patients and makes them fully dependant on others. This can be ...

Immunology Disorders

The immune system is responsible for protecting the body from various parasites, bacteria, virus etc. that try to destabilize the homeostasis. Naturally, the immune system is considered one of the most important mechanisms that help us recuperate from diseases. When the immune system malfunctions and starts destroying self-cells, it leads to certain disorders. In other circumstances, the immune system may be suppressed and fail to kill disease causing cells. Here we will discuss a few disorders of the immune system.

HYPERSENSITIVITY TYPE I

Allergy or hypersensitivity type I is also known as allergic reaction or intolerance, in this scenario the immune system creates a ...

The morning cup of coffee and all its varieties, is under a constant scrutiny for its impacts on health and cognition of consumers. Various studies have tried to showcase the effects of caffeine on the functioning of human body; in the present essay we will discuss some of the health benefits of coffee based on existing scientific research. Coffee is derived from the dried, roasted, and crushed seeds of the coffee plant. Coffee beans are rich in caffeine, antioxidants and various other phytochemicals. Studies show that the phytochemicals derived from coffee play a significant role in lowering neurodegenerative disease risk(Mikuls ...

Intervention Plan

Intervention plan 2 - List areas of weakness in occupational performance for Ms. T Ms.T faces shoulder and wrist aches when she is teaching at the school, be it while writing on the blackboard, or just trying to hold a book. She faces troubles in knitting, and playing cards, due to the same problem. Her physical agility is very weak, and she takes a long time to do her household chores. She is also having trouble in walking without support, and turning about the bed every night. She faces trouble in the toilet too. Her capability to bathe the ...

Analysis of NSAIDs non-selective take (Ibuprofen and Naproxen)

Health impact of many diseases leaves a potential consequence on the quality of life (QOL). The frequency at which such impact occurs could vary from one disease condition to the other. Affected individuals need to encounter physical and psychological distress. However, scientific advancements have made a progress in alleviating such problems. Especially, pharmaceutical science has become a reliable branch to cater the needs of people who suffer from illnesses. Understanding the efficacy and other properties of various drugs is important for the better therapeutic application of pharmacy. In such context, the present description deals with highlighting about Analysis of NSAID take by ...

Acupuncture is a component of the traditional Chinese medicine. It is also categorized under complementary and alternative medicine – medical practices that are not part of the standard care. Acupuncture is used to describe a collection of processes, which involve skin penetration using needles. These processes stimulate certain points on the body. The mode of action of acupuncture is based on the theory that the functions of the body are under the regulation of an energy ‘Qi’. Under normal body conditions, this energy flows through the body, and any disruption of flow causes disease. Acupuncture, therefore, aims to rectify the imbalances in ...

The Western Australian Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation (WAARF) is a non-profit organization based in Australia which was initiated in the year 1972 by Dr. Phyllis Goatcher, Evan Owen and Roger Dawkins. In the year 1991, it changed its name to the current form. Its formation objectives were care, education, research to reduce incidences and effects of arthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases. At first, it lacked a home and operated at a grant home in Murray St. offered by ANZ Bank. In 1994, the organization held a Capital Fundraising Appeal and managed to construct a Resource Center which was named after Mr. Bill Wyllie as a sign ...

1. Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that potentially affects many tissues and organs of the human body. Amongst the tissues that may become affected are: the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs and muscles. However, the joints are the primary sites of infection and if left untreated it may results in the destruction of articular cartilage (Robbins, 2008, p.1237). This disease is a condition that affects the physical, societal and financial aspects of the patient's life (Croon et al, 2004).2. What is the aetiology of the injury? The etiology of RA is unclear and many ...

UniversityRheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease more common in women than men. It is an inflammatory disorder of the joints especially in the hands and legs which becomes chronic over time. The joints become tender and cause inflammation that could lead to serious disability which might also lead to death in some cases (Aletaha et al, 2010).

Etiology of Rheumatoid arthritis

The etiology of the disease has not been clearly understood so far. RA condition manifests itself when the components of the autoimmune system losses control and attack specific tissues in the body as they fail to distinguish between the tissues in ...

Review of “Resilience and Vulnerability to Daily Stressors Assessed via Diary Methods” by David M. Almeida. In his article “Resilience and Vulnerability to Daily Stressors Assessed via Diary Methods,” David Almeida defines daily stressors as “routine challenges of day-to-day living, such as everyday concerns of work, caring for other people, and commuting between work and home. They may also refer to more unexpected small occurrences – such as arguments with children, unexpected work deadlines, and malfunctioning computers – that disrupt daily life” (Almeida, 2005). Almeida also distinguishes between these daily stressors and major events that occur in peoples’ lives. The ...

Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) is a variation of herpetic necrotizing retinopathy seen largely in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes chickenpox and, when reactivated from dormancy in the dorsal root ganglia, herpes zoster (shingles). It initially attacks the periphery of the retina and then spreads to involve the entire retina. Unlike typical herpetic necrotizing retinopathy, inflammation of the anterior chamber and vitreous is minimal or absent. It is manifest by variable severity of vision loss at the outset, with a variable but largely discouraging visual outcome. (Engstrom et ...

Sandy most likely has Rheumatoid arthritis. The signs of arthritis that Sandy has include early morning stiffness of the small joints of the hands and the recent swelling up of both her knees.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate at 23mm/hr is high and indicates an on-going inflammation. Also the Rheumatoid factor is positive. Most patients with Rheumatoid arthritis have a positive Rheumatoid factor assay.

There is actually no test result that is pathognomonic of rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnosis is made using a combination of clinical features, laboratory investigations and imaging features.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed. One type is the non-selective Cyclooxygensae ...